A new industry survey aimed at forecasting the upcoming holiday shopping
season says that consumers are more disposed to browse on the Internet than
to actually buy.
Net Effect, a provider of Web-based “live
help” services for e-commerce sites, said its E-Christmas Consumer Survey
found that 94 percent of Internet users use the Web to assist in shopping,
while only 10 percent prefer to buy things online.
A significant share of e-shoppers still cite security concerns and
fulfillment policies as a key barrier to purchasing, with 74 percent and 73
percent, respectively, indicating that better security assurances and timely
delivery would increase their likelihood of buying online.
“Consumers will most often be coming to sites to shop, not to buy,” said
Julie Schoenfeld, president and CEO of Net Effect. “They have basic questions
about delivery and security which, if handled properly, can be addressed
online to convert these e-shoppers into e-buyers. This is the year that the
Web can win over the American consumer.”
Net Effect’s solution enables real-time text-based conversations between
e-businesses and their customers.
Net Effect is backed by Greylock, Trinity
Ventures, TL Ventures and Stanford University.
